Alaska Grayling Fishing
Alaska grayling fishing can be a wonderful experience. I grew up in Southcentral Alaska and the only locations I knew of where grayling could be found were small lakes in the area.
This species is found all over the state of Alaska - all the way from Homer to Fairbanks and possibly points farther north, and were planted on Kodiak Island; but grayling are not found in Southeast Alaska (for instance, Ketchikan), nor can they be found in the Aleutian chain.
Grayling are a cousin of the trout. They have a large dorsal fin that resembles a sail and are quite colorful, with red and purple spots on the dorsal fin and iridescent gray sides. They eat virtually anything, which makes them very attractive to anglers. Grayling are quite fond of salmon eggs and will gorge on them. They have also been known to eat aquatic insects and even voles or shrews.
This great sport fish can be found in both rivers and lakes, and in some cases will spawn and die in the same lake. The grayling is well adapted to an environment that has low levels of dissolved oxygen and therefore overwinters well in such icy rivers as the Chena, Gulkana, Tanana, Susitna and Yukon. Grayling are not as common as other sport fish and in parts of the northern United States have disappeared entirely, due to overfishing, loss of habitat and competition from introduced species. For those who are fortunate enough to catch this lovely fish, preparation is simple. Once the grayling has been cleaned, (retaining the dorsal fin and tail!), roll the filets in cornmeal (for crunchiness) and salt lightly. The best taste is obtained by frying the fish in a cast iron skillet, in hot bacon grease. I realize that this is not the 'heart healthy' way to cook, but - how often in your lifetime are you going to be blessed with a gustatory treat such as crispy fried grayling? So abandon your diet for this brief moment in time and dive into the delicacy that is Arctic grayling!
If your vacation plans include coming to Alaska for some grayling fishing, bring your favorite fly rod and a good selection of flies, and be prepared to spend many hours in pursuit of this beautiful fish!
Alaska Halibut Fishing
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